Counsels for the Church - Ellen G. White

immortal life depends upon how they conduct themselves in the concerns of
this life, and that the strictest integrity is indispensable to the formation of a
righteous character. Dishonesty is ... the cause of lukewarmness on the part
of many who profess to believe the truth. They are not connected with Christ
and are deceiving their own souls. I am pained to make the statement that
there is an alarming lack of honesty even among Sabbathkeepers.
Business Alliances With the World
Some have no tact at wise management of worldly matters. They lack
the necessary qualifications, and Satan takes advantage of them. When this is
the case, such should not remain in ignorance of their task. They should be
humble enough to counsel with their brethren, in whose judgment they can
have confidence, before they carry out plans. I was directed to this text:
"Bear ye one another's burdens." Some are not humble enough to let those
who have judgment calculate for them until they have followed their own
plans, and have involved themselves in difficulties. Then they see the
necessity of having the counsel and judgment of their brethren; but how
much heavier the burden then than at first. Brethren should not go to law if it
can be possibly avoided; for they thus give the enemy great advantage to
entangle and perplex them. It would be better to make a settlement at some
loss.
I saw that God was displeased with His people for becoming surety for
unbelievers. I was directed to these texts: Proverbs 22:26: "Be not thou one
of them that strike hands, or of them that are sureties for debts." Proverbs
11:15: "He that is surety for a stranger shall smart for it: and he that hateth
suretyship is sure." Unfaithful stewards! They pledge that which belongs to
another,--their heavenly Father,--and Satan stands ready to aid his children to
wrench it out of their hands. Sabbathkeepers should not be in partnership
with unbelievers. God's people trust too much to the words of strangers, and
ask their advice and counsel when they should not. The enemy makes them
81